This footage shows a woman left to die on a hospital ward even though she was seen by security guards and a nurse and doctor who ignored the fact that she was sprawled on the floor until it was too late.
People have been fired and questions are being asked of the hospital and quite rightly but what we see here is not just callousness but a perfect example of bystander apathy
The more people around the less likely someone is to be helped in some instances. Why? Because being social creatures we look to others to give us cues as to how to act. If no one else has done anything then it must be ok right? Research has shown that if people are taught about how bystander apathy works they become immune to it. Raising public (and professional) awareness of basic psychological ‘mechanisms’ can save lives it seems.
